He was certainly capable, even more so than Li Banfeng.
He had his own territory here; as long as he shed blood, the Local Deity would protect him.
Even without bloodshed, Yanzi would still protect him.
As long as he didn’t leave this plot of land, Ma Wu was safer here than at the Ma Family Mansion.
Even though the conflict with the Lu Family had subsided for now, Ma Wu was still a bit worried. "If there’s nothing important, it’s best not to go to Greenwater City for the time being," he said. "I always feel like the major families are going to stir up some trouble."
"I do have important business to attend to. I need to buy paintings," Li Banfeng said.
"Buy paintings?" Ma Wu blinked. "How is buying paintings an important matter?"
"It’s very important," Li Banfeng replied. "I’m now addicted to looking at paintings. I can’t even eat if I don’t look at them daily."
These words sounded familiar to Ma Wu. He remembered when Li Banfeng had insisted on buying a phonograph; no matter how much Ma Wu tried to persuade him, he couldn’t stop Li Banfeng.
"Old Qi, some of your actions are truly bizarre. I simply can’t understand them," Ma Wu said.
Li Banfeng replied with a wry smile, "You slept with the Straw Moth Lady, and you say *my* actions are strange?"
"Are you looking to buy work from famous artists or just ordinary wall paintings?" Ma Wu asked.
"If I’m going to Greenwater City, naturally I want works from famous artists."
Actually, Li Banfeng wanted to learn painting.
The Western painting techniques taught by the Pendulum Sect could take two or three years to master. Li Banfeng wanted to learn some quick painting skills.
"Works from famous artists..." Ma Wu pondered for a moment, then thought of someone. "In Greenwater City, there are many famous painters, but in my opinion, the one with the most artistic conception is Mr. Qiao Guangyuan, especially his landscape paintings..."
"I don’t want landscape paintings," Li Banfeng said, waving his hand. "I want someone who’s good at painting people."
"For painting people, Mr. Fu Taiyue is highly skilled," Ma Wu said. "In just three to five strokes, he can bring a person to life in his paintings, but his works are not cheap."
Upon hearing "three to five strokes," Li Banfeng was energized.
he thought.
"Where does this gentleman live?"
Ma Wu gave Li Banfeng Fu Taiyue’s address, advising, "Mr. Fu Taiyue is somewhat reclusive and proud, and his paintings aren’t cheap. If you truly intend to buy his work, you’ll need to be patient."
Li Banfeng thought,
After staying in New Land for one night, Li Banfeng sent Xiao Genzi back to Blue Poplar Village the next day and then went to Greenwater City alone.
Following Ma Wu’s directions, Li Banfeng found Mr. Fu Taiyue’s residence.
After he knocked for a long time, a servant came out and asked, "Are you here to request a painting?"
Li Banfeng shook his head. "I’m here to learn painting."
The servant sized him up and said, "Please wait here."
After waiting outside the door for over half an hour, it finally opened. The servant showed Li Banfeng into the entrance hall, where he waited for another half hour before being led to the main hall.
Li Banfeng uttered no complaint despite waiting for so long.
he thought.
Mr. Fu Taiyue was painting. The servant gestured for Li Banfeng to remain quiet. Li Banfeng carefully admired the paintings in the living room and then looked at the master’s incomplete work.
After looking around, Li Banfeng turned and left.
Fu Taiyue put down his paintbrush and let out a cold laugh. "Young man, you lack even this much patience. How do you expect to become my disciple?"
"It’s not that I lack patience; I just don’t want to learn from you." Li Banfeng wasn’t complaining; he was speaking his mind.
Fu Taiyue was taken aback. He looked at Li Banfeng and said, "I am not very capable. Please, enlighten me."
Li Banfeng looked at a painting in the living room and said, "I don’t understand your painting. Are you painting a person or a mountain?"
The old master laughed. "I am painting the Mountain God. Its form is like a mountain, and its spirit like a human. The artistic conception of the Mountain God is encapsulated within this scroll."
Li Banfeng took a closer look. The old master’s explanation did have some merit.
The form was that of a mountain, but the lines within the landscape sketched out a human face, indeed carrying an elusive majesty and presence.
"Quite good," Li Banfeng praised, but still turned to leave.
The old master’s paintings indeed possessed artistic conception; every piece in the room was imbued with it.
Li Banfeng thought.
Seeing Li Banfeng leave without looking back, the old master put down his paintbrush and chased after him. "Young man," he called out, "you just said it was ’quite good,’ but you haven’t told me what exactly is good about the painting!"
"Everything about it is good," Li Banfeng said. "It’s just too profound for me. I haven’t reached that level yet. I’ll come to seek your guidance after a few more years of study."
Fu Taiyue’s expression darkened. The servant, watching Li Banfeng’s retreating figure, mocked, "Someone like you should go learn painting on Painting Street. That place suits your station."
Li Banfeng turned back and asked, "Where is Painting Street? I’d like to go have a look."
He was sincerely asking for directions, but this remark angered Fu Taiyue. A vein throbbed on the old master’s temple. The Mountain God painting hanging in the living room seemed to come to life, glaring furiously at Li Banfeng.
It wasn’t just an impression; it had actually come to life.
Li Banfeng sensed danger and quickly left the residence.
Li Banfeng wondered.
Li Banfeng arrived at Painting Street. There were many shops selling paintings, as well as numerous street vendors.
As he walked past some stalls, Li Banfeng’s attention was caught by a Beauty Painting.
It was a traditional Chinese painting. While the lines were relatively simple, the figure was vividly lifelike. The beauty depicted was particularly stunning. She wore a cheongsam and had wavy, shoulder-length hair, large eyes, slender brows, and full lips. Notably, a mole above the left corner of her mouth made her look quite alluring.